Combination shearing and shut-off ram



Jan. 31, 1961 A. E. WILDE 2,969,838

COMBINATION SHEARING AND SHUT-OFF RAM Filed July 23, 1956 r 46 57 kQ4045 3w 4 l2 /0 IN VEN TOR, ARTHUR E. W/LDE BY I . 4//rne y COMBINATIONSHEARING AND SHUT-OFF RAM Arthur E. Wilde, Big Bear Lake, Califi,assignor to Shaffer Tool Works, Brea, Calif., a corporation ofCalifornia Filed July 23, 1956, Ser. No. 599,620

13 Claims. (Cl. 166-55) This invention relates generally to welldrilling equipment and relates more particularly to blowout preventerssuch as are used in the drilling of oil wells and the like.

There are situations where it is desirable or necessary to cut a drillstring and this is sometimes diflicult or hazardous, particularly inoff-shore drilling operations and sometimes other complications, wellknown to those wherewith the string may be cut and. a complete shut-offeffected.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination shearingand complete shut-off ram arrangement in blowout preventers or controlgates.

A still further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of thischaracter that is relatively simple in construction and effective inoperation.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of thischaracter that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and install.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention are furthersufficiently referred to in connection with the following detaileddescription of the accompanying drawings which represent a preferredembodiment. After considering this example, skilled persons willunderstand that variations may be made without departing from theprinciples disclosed, and I contemplate the employment of anystructures, arrangements or modes of operation that are properly withinthe scope of the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a double control gate with portions broken awayto show the interior construction; and Fig. 2 is a perspective of bothrams of the apparatus.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown a hydraulicdouble cellar control gate of known construction such as shown in the1956 General Catalog of Shaffer Tool Works, page 4530. A briefdescription of this structure is therefore believed to be suflicient.This control gate has a body with a vertical bore 12 therethrough. Thereare the usual ram compartments,

.the upper being indicated at 14 and the lower being indicated at 15.The upper compartments are oppositely arranged in the usual manner andare normal to the axis of the bore 12. The rams for the upper comparttheusual hydraulic mechanism, not shown, for actuating these rams.

The lower ram chambers 15 are oppositely arranged and are also normal tothe axis of the bore 12. -The States Patent 6 'side of the ram block 34.It is to be noted, however, that the rubber portions extend upwardly ofthe plane of "the top side of the block 34 and forwardly thereof, a

construction known in the art. There is an opening ice rams for saidchambers are shown in Fig. 2 and are indicated generally at 20 and 22respectively.

The ram 20 comprises a ram block holder 26 of generally semicircularshape. At the back or outer end there is an extension 27 of arcuateshape in which is provided an arcuate slot 28 having upwardly anddownwardly extending arcuate grooves 29 at the inner end thereof, saidslot and grooves being open at the end for reception of the T head 30 ofa piston rod ram shaft 3-1 of the piston, not shown, which actuates saidram. The upper surface of the ram block holder 26 is provided with asemicircular recess 3-3 for reception of a ram block 34 and ram rubbertherefor, the latter being indicated generally at 35. The ram blockholder 26 has a lug 26a of known character at each side slidablyengageabie with the respective side walls of the respective ramcompartments or chambers to prevent tilting of said rams in a horizontalplane and operably guide them in said chambers. There are also the usualside skids 26b on the sides of the ram chambers which also aid inguiding the rams inwardly and outwardly in said chambers.

Ram block 34 is semicircular in shape and is provided in the bottom edgeportion of the straight side with a recess 36 which extends the lengthof said straight side, there being an upward extension 37 of saidrecess. Ram rubber 35 comprises a semicircular part 38 about the back orcurved portion of the ram block 34 and a diametrical portion 39' whichfills the recess 36 and extension 37. The plane of the under side of theportions 38 and 39 of the ram rubbers is the same as the plane of theunder through the block adjacent the rear thereof for reception of a ramblock retracting screw, 40, there being an enlarged cylindrical upperend portion 41 of said bore for reception of the cylindrical head 42 ofsaid screw. The screw is of the usual well known type and serves toattach the ram block and rubber therefor to the ram block holder 26 inthe usual well known manner, said ram block holder having a tappedopening therein aligned with the bore for the screw and threadablyreceiving said screw. It is to be understood that the rubber is securedto the ram block in the usual manner, such as, for example, by

bonding.

At the straight side the ram block holder 26 is provided with a recess45 which extends from said straight side inwardly and in the upperportion of the holder so that said recess is open at said straight sideand also'open upwardly into the recess 33. Within the recess 45 issecured a shearing blade 46. Adjacent the rear of the blade 46 is a borefor reception of a mounting screw 47 which has an enlarged cylindricalhead 48 received within a cylindrical counterbore of the bore for saidscrew.

The head is completely received within the counterbore and the lower endof the screw is threadably received in a tapped opening providedtherefor in the ram block holder. Beneath the shearing blade a recess 50is provided in the ram block holder to provide clearance for theshearing blade of the opposite ram. It is to be noted that the recess 50does not extend the full distance across the straight face of the ramblock holder so that there are shoulders 51 at the ends for supportingthe ends of the shearing blade 46.

Ram 22 comprises a ram block holder 60 of generally the same shape asthe ram block holder of the ram 20. Ram block holder 60 includesextension 27 having the slot 28 with the upwardly and downwardlyextending groove 29 at the inner or bottom end of said slot. The slotand grooves are open at the ends for reception of the T head 30 ofpiston rod ram shaft 31 of the piston, not shown,

which actuates' said ram 22. The upper surface of the ram block holder60 is provided with a semicirciilar 'r'ec'ess 3.3 for reception of a ramblock 34 and ram rubber therefor, the latter being indicated generallyat 35.

The ram block '34 and rubber-'35 therefor are of"the same structureandshapeas the corresponding parts of the ram 20 and are'similarlysecured in the ram block holder 60.

said enlarged portion of the screw receiving opening.

The rams '20 and 22 are installed in the chamberI S provided therefor inthe body 10. The bottom portion of the ram chamber 15 is recessed at 65and said recesses are deeply sloped downwardly toward the borefordrainage, as is" well known, the rams being supported on guide "ribs 66.

The shearing blade 46 does not project forwardly of the straight side ofthe ram block holder 26 of the ram 20. However; the shearing blade 63 ofthe ram 22 projects forwardly of the straight side 'of'theramblockholder '60 and iti's to be noted that the extended portion oftheblade 63 eirtends'outwardly a greater distance at one end than "at'theotherend. "Also, the blade 63 has its outer forward'*face in'clineddownwardly and rearwardly sdthat the cutting"'edge' at the upper side ofthe blade leads" the rest'of the a'de, The cutting edge 67 is 'in aboutthe of 'theblade 63 being received in the recess50 when the rams 'are'inthe closed position.

"When it is"desired to cut a string or pipe in the bore '12 the rams20-and 2Z are hydraulically movedto -the closed position by the usualwell known hydraulic mechanism. "As the rams -close on the pipe thelatteriscrushed and-then sheared by'the'blades 46 and 63. 'The tensionon the string will force-the pipe upwardly when the shearing has beencompleted and the rams will move to the -fully closed positioni'a'ndeffect a complete shut-ofi.

, It is thought tha't" the invention and many of its attendantadvantages will be understood from the foregoing descrip tion and it-isthought that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in theform, construction and ar- 'rang'em'ent of the parts of the inventionand the method of operation thereof w ithout departing from the spiritand scope thereof or sacrificing allof its material advantages, theembodiment hereinbefore described being merely a 1 preferred one.

I claim: i 1. In a control gate a body having a bore therethrough forreception of a :wellstring and oppositely arranged ram chambers in a:plane normal to said bore; aram in each of said chambers, one of'saidrams comprising a ram blockholder of semicircular shape and having asemicircular recess in the upperside, extendingrearw-ardly fromthe-inner diametrical, straight open side thereofand having-asubstantially horizontal bottom and'a semicircular vertical wall; asem-icircular ram-block having==-a recess at the lower corner of thestraight side, said rec'ess including an offset portion; a completeshut-off rubber on said ram block, said rnbberwincluding aportion in'said raniblock recess-and offset and a portiona aroundethesemicircularportionofthe razrn'block, said ramblock and rubberbeingoperably securedinsaid recess 'of the ram block holder with theupper edge portion-of'the arcuate portion of therubber upstanding abovethe topsurface'of the ram block'holder and the "forward edgeportionofthe straight side of said rubber extending forwardly of the"straightside'of 'said' ram block holder and ram block; said ram blockholder having a further recess in the bottom of the first mentionedrecess, said further recess being 5 at the straight side of the ramblock holder and having closed ends; a shearing blade removably securedin said further recess and havingits'outer side in substantially thesame plane as the straight side of said ram blockholder, saidrambloclholder having a clearance recess beneath it! -said' 'shearing'blade;said clearance recess being shorter ithan'the blade'recessandhaving the ends thereof closed; the other ram comprising asemicircular ram block holder having a semicircular recess in the upperside extending rearwardly' from'the diametrical straight open sidethereof and having a horizontal bottom Wall and a semicircular verticalwall; a ram block and complete shutoff rubber therefor, corresponding toram block and rubber therefor of said one ram, operably secured in saidrecess; the ram block holder of said other ram having a blade receivingre'cess in 'the lower edge portion of the straight side 'thereof; ablade removably secured in said recess, said blade having a portionprojecting forwardly of the straight side of the rain block holder ofsaid other ram and taper- ."ir'ig from one end'toward the other, saidblade also taper- 'ing from the upper free edge downwardly andrearwardly, the planes of the adjacent sides of said blades being such"th'atthe adjacent edges of said blades operably cooperate "for shearingaction when said rams are moved to the a closed position, the projectingportion of the blade of said "oth'er"ra'm being received in saidclearance recess when "sa'id'fanis'ar'e closed; and means for actuatingsaid rains toward and away from each other in the chambers thereof. :2.;n'f-a"control;gate: a body having a bore theremreng 'forre c'eption of awell string and oppositely/ ar- V ranged chambers in a-plane normal tosaid bore; a rain "bperably' disposed in each of said chambers-and"aaapte'dto be actuated between open and closed-positions, one of saidrams comprising a'ram block holder of 40 seniic'ircularshape and-havinga semicircular recess in the upper'side, extending rearwardly from theinner diametrical, ropenside thereof, said recess having a substan-"tiallyhorizontalbottom and a semicircular vertical wall;aser'nicircular ram block having a recess at the lower corner of thestraight side; a complete shut-01f rubber fonsaid 'raintbloch 'saidrubber including a portionwin said rarriblockrecess anda portion aroundthe semicircular portion ofthe ram block, said ram block and."russeisein ,operably secured in said recess of the ram block holderwith the upper edge portion of the arcuate portion of the rubberupstanding above the top sur- "face'of'the ram block holder and theforward edge portion'bf'the straight side of said rubber extendingforwardly bf the straight side of said ram block holder and ram block;said ram block holder having a further ff'c'celss' 'in"the bottom 'ofthe first mentioned recess, said "'fiirtliefrece's's being open at thestraight side of the ram block holder and having closed ends; a shearingblade se. ctiredin saidfurther recess and having its outer sidein sul5stantially the same plane as the straight side of said ram block "holder,said ram block holder having a clearance recess beneath said shearingblade, said o'learance"rece'ss beingopedat the straight side of said ram*blo'ckf" holdenand shorter than the blade recess, the e'ndsbf 'saidclearance"recess being closed;the otherram comprising 'aSeihicir'crilarram block holder having a emicircuIar recess in the upper side extendingrear- -wardlyfrom the diametrical straight open sidethere'of landhaving: a horizontal'bottom wall and a semicircular 'vertical c-wallraram block. and complete shut-ofi rubber thereforg -corresponding to ramblock and rubber therefor ass-said one ram; operably secured in saidrecess; -the ram block holder of said other ram having a bladerefceivingre'cess in the lower edge portion of the straight asidethereof; and a blade secured in said recess,-'-said aeeasas blade havinga portion projecting forwardly of the straight side of the ram blockholder of said other ram and tapering from one end toward the other,said blades cooperating for shearing action when said rams are moved tothe closed position, the projecting portion of the blade of said otherram being received in said clearance recess when said rams are closed.

3. In a control gate: a body having a bore therethrough for reception ofa well string and oppositely arranged ram chambers in a plane, normal tosaid bore; complete shut-off rams operably mounted in said chambers,each of said rams including a ram block holder of semicircular shape andhaving a semicircular recess in the upper side, extending rearwardlyfrom the inner diametrical, open side thereof and having a substantiallyhorizontal bottom and a semicircular vertical wall; a semicircular ramblock having a recess at the lower corner of the straight side; acomplete shut-off rubber on said ram block, said rubber including aportion in said ram block recess and a portion around the semicircularportion of the ram block, said ram block and rubber being operablysecured in said recess of the ram block holder with the upper edgeportion of the arcuate portion of the rubber upstanding above the topsurface of the ram block holder and the forward edge portion of thediametrical side of said rubber extending forwardly of the diametricalside of said ram block holder and ram block; one of said ram blockholders having a further recess in the bottom of the first mentionedrecess, said further recess being open at the diametrical side of theram block holder and having closed ends; a shearing blade removablysecured in said further recess and having its outer side substantiallythe diametrical side of said ram block holder, said ram block holderhaving a clearance recess open at the diametrical side of said holderand beneath said shearing blade, said clearance recess being shorterthan the blade recess and having the ends thereof closed; the other ramincluding a ram block holder having a blade receiving recess in thelower edge portion of the diametrical side; and a blade removablysecured in said recess, said blade having a portion projecting forwardlyof the diametrical side of the ram block holder of said other ramtapering from one end toward the other, said blades being adapted tooperably cooperate for shearing action when said rams are moved to theclosed position, the projecting portion of the blade of said other rambeing received in said clearance recess when said rams are closed.

4. In a control gate: a body having a bore therethrough for reception ofa well string and oppositely arranged ram chambers in a plane normal tosaid bore; a complete ram in each of said chambers, said rams beingadapted to be actuated between open and closed positions, said rams eachincluding a ram block holder of generally semicircular shape, one ofsaid holders having a shear blade receiving recess open at the straightside of said ram block holder and having closed ends; a shearing bladeremovably secured in said recess and having its outer side insubstantially the same plane as the straight side of said ram blockholder, said ram block holder having a clearance recess beneath saidshearing blade; the other ram block holder having a blade receivingrecess in the lower edge portion of the straight side thereof in linewith said clearance recess; a blade removably secured in said recess ofthe other ram block holder, said blade having a portion projectingforwardly of the straight side of the ram block holder of said other ramand tapering from one end toward the other, said blades being arrangedso that the adjacent edges thereof cooperate for shearing action whensaid rams are moved to the closed position, the projecting portion ofthe blade of said other ram being received in said clearance recess whensaid rams are closed.

5. A complete shut-off ram for control gates, comprising: a ram blockholder of semicircular shape and having a semicircular recess in theupper side, extending rear-,

wardly from the diametrical, straight open side thereof and having abottom parallel to the sides of said holder, and a semicircular verticalwall; a semicircular'ram block having a recess at the lower corner ofthe straight side, said recess including an offset portion; a completeshutoff rubber on said ram block, said rubber including a portion insaid ram block recess and ofiset and a portion around the semicircularportion of the ram block, said ram block and rubber being operablysecured in said recess of the ram block holder with the upper edgeportion of the arcuate portion of the rubber upstanding above the topsurface of the ram block holder and the forward edge portion of thestraight side of said rubber extending forwardly of the straight side ofsaid ram block holder and ram block; said ram block holder having afurther recess in the bottom of the first mentioned recess, said furtherrecess being at'the'straight side of the ram block holder and havingclosed ends; and a shearing blade removably secured in said furtherrecess and having its outer side in substantially the same plane as thestraight side of said ram block holder, said ram block holder having aclearance recess beneath said shearing blade, said clearance recessbeing shorter than the blade recess and having the ends thereof closed.

6. A complete shut-off ram for control gates, comprising: a semicircularram block holder having a semicircular recess therein having ahorizontal bottom wall and a semicircular vertical wall; a ram block andcomplete shut-01f rubber therefor disposed in said recess; meanssecuring said ram block and rubber therefor in said recess; said ramblock holder having a blade receiving recess in the lower edge portionof the straight side thereof; and a blade secured in said recess, saidblade having a portion projecting outwardly'of the straight side of theram block holder and tapering from one end toward the other, said bladealso tapering from the upper free edge downwardly and rearwardly.

7. In a complete shut-off ram for control gates: a ram block holder ofsemicircular shape having a blade receiving recess at the straight sideof the ram block holder and a seal receiving recess opening at saidstraight side; a sealing element secured in the latter recess; and ashearing blade secured in said blade receiving recess, said ram blockholder having a clearance recess beneath said shearing blade.

8. In a complete shut-off ram for control gates: a ram block holder ofsemicircular shape, said ram block holder having a blade receivingrecess in the lower edge portion of the straight side thereof and asealing element receiving recess opening at said straight side; asealing element secured in the latter recess; and a blade removablysecured in the first mentioned recess, said blade having a portionprojecting forwardly of the straight side of the ram block holder andtapering from one end toward the other.

9. In a control gate: a body having a bore therethrough for reception ofa well string and oppositely arranged ram chambers in a plane normal tosaid bore; a complete shutoff ram slidably disposed in each of saidchambers adapted to be actuated away from and toward each other betweenopen and closed positions, said rams each including a ram block holderof semicircular shape, one of said ram block holders having a cuttingedge at the straight side thereof, and the other ram block holder havinga shearing blade projecting ahead of the straight side thereof andcooperating with the cutting edge of said one ram block holder forshearing action when the rams are moved to the closed position; andsealing means carried by each of said rams at their adjacent sides.

10. In a control gate: a body having a bore therethrough for receptionof a well string and oppositely arranged rarn chambers in a plane normalto said bore; a shutoff ram slidably disposed in each of said chambersadapted to be actuated between open and closed positions, said rams eachincluding a ram block holder of '7 semibirhlarslrape, one of said ramblock holders having ar-shearing b1ade'-atathestraight side thereof, thecutting edge'of said-blade being substa'ntiallyinthefplane of said"strai'ght side of- -saidbne ram block holder, and

-theother ram block holder having a cooperating 'shear- 1 slidablydisposed'ineach'of-the upper chambers adaptedto be actuated toward andaway from each other between closed and open positions; at completeshutoff rarn operably disposed in each of the lowercharnbers' andadapted to be actuated between open and-closed positions, said rams eachincluding airarn block holder having a shearing blade at the inner-sidethereof and the other'ram block holder having arcooperating shearingblade," said blades cooperating for shearingflaction When' said tramsare moved 'to the closed positionyandsealing means carried by said ramsat their adjacent sides.

12. In a control gate:-a body. having a bore therethrough for receptionof a'well' string and oppositely arranged ram chambersin'a plane normalto said bore; L-a complete shut-oii :ram 1 operably disposed- :in=each-of 'said chambers and adapted to*be1 actuated between open 'andclosed positions,- said rams -r each including a ram blo'ck holder ofsemicircular shape, one ofmsaid': ram 'block" holders having ashearingbladez'at the straightside thereof having' a straight "cutting edge, theI other. ram

1 block holder having acooperating shearing blade :in a parallel planeoifs'et from the plane of the blade of said one ram block holder, thesecond rnentioned shearing blade having a straight cutting edge-and thecutti-ng' edges of said blades being along leading adjacent edges ofsaid blades and being inclined'relative'to-each other-for cooperativeshearingaction when'said rams are movcd to the closed pos'ition; andsealing means carriedwby said r'a'rns at their straight sides.

13.-'A"-ram for-control gates including: a ram block holder havinganiinwardly-iacing straight side; a shearing blade secured to saidholder andhaving a shearing edge disposed generally along said straightside; anda deformables'ealing element =secured to said-holder, saidseating element having a straight sealing surface disposed generallyalong-the length of said straight side, said shearing blade and-saidstraight'sealing surface being ofiset vertically from each other alongsaid straight side and with said shearing edge projecting beyondsaidstraight sealing surface of said sealing element.

R'efe'rence's Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS369,872 Olsen et a1.- Sept. 13, 1887 1,106,026 Barber Aug. 4, 19141,802,564 Lacey Apr. 28, 1931 1,802,732 Muller .Apr. 28, 1931 1,875,673sto'ckstill e Sept. 6', 1932 1,949,672 :Barrier Mar 6, 1934 2',052,939Otis- Sept. 1, 1936 2,398,840 Mo'rin -'-Apr.-- 23, 1946 2,631,609Schweitzer "-Mar. 17, 1953 2,919,111 Nicolson t. -Dec. 29, 1959

